Paper packet processing machine



Nov. 3, 1959 a w. s. RZEMIENSKI 2,911,131

v PAPER PACKET PROCESSING MACHINE Filed Dec. 29, 1954 s Sheets-Sheet 1 ya f U 0 i o O 1 I y g;

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INVENTOR ATTORNEY Nov. 3, 1959 w. s. RZEMIENSKI 2,911,131

PAPER PACKET PROCESSING MACHINE Filed Dec. 29, 1954 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Nov. 3, 1959 w. s. RZEMIENSKI PAPER PACKET PROCESSING MACHINE Filed Dec. 29, 195 4 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Nov. 3, 1959 w. s. RZEMIENSKI 2,911,131

PAPER PACKET PROCESSING MACHINE Filed Dec. 29, 1954 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR ATT RNEY Nov. 3, 1959 w. s. RZEMIENSKI 7 2,911,131

PAPER PACKET PROCESSING MACHINE Filed Dec. 29, 1954 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ATTORN Y Nov. 3, 1959 w. s. RZEMIENSKI 2,911,131

1 PAPER PACKET PROCESSING MACHINE Filed Dec. 29, 1954 I 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Nov. 3, 1959 w. s. RZEMIENSKI 2,911,131

PAPER PACKET PROCESSING MACHINE Filed Dec. 29, 1954 a Sheets-Sheet '7 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Nov. 3, 1959 w. s. RZEMIENSKI 2,911,131

PAPER PACKET PROCESSING MACHINE Filed Dec. 29, 1954 a Sheets-Sfiqet s f! v/J j? fly nu-f WU ATTORNEY United States Patent PAPER PACKET PROCESSING MACHINE Walter S. Rzemienski, Westchester, Ill., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application December 29, 1954, Serial No. 478,454

8 Claims. (Cl. 225- 100) This invention relates generally to processing machinery and more particularly to a machine for processing paper packets including a plurality of duplicated sheets and carbonized sheets therebetween bound together along a margin, the machine being adapted to process the packets by removing the carbonized sheets fIOm between the other sheets of the packets and also separating the other sheets of the packet into separate stacks.

There is a constantly increasing use of the so-called IBM-type paper packet usually comprising one or more paper or cardboard sheets bound together along a marginal edge and having carbons inserted therebetween which are used for various purposes such as labor authorization forms, A.V.O.s, etc. These forms are normally printed with certain blank spaces which are usually filled out by entering with a pencil, pen, etc., in appropriate places on the top sheet any suitable information which is then duplicated on the other sheets of the packet by means of the carbon inserts. The information sheets of the packet are usually perforated adjacent one marginal edge along which the sheets are normally bound together. The carbons, however, are not so that when the sheets are separated along the perforations the carbons remain attached to the bound marginal edge which is then disposed of in some suitable manner. After these packets have been filled out it is the usual procedure to collect them in some central place where one or more persons have the'task of removing the carbons from between the remaining sheets of the'packet and separating the duplicated sheets into originals and carbon copies. These operations in the past have been accomplished by hand and so far as is known up to the present time no machine has ever been provided for processing these packets. It will be readily appreciated that the removal of the carbons from in between the sheets of the paper packets and separation of the sheets all by hand is an extremely laborious and very time consuming job. Furthermore, in spite of precautions on the part of the person removing the carbon inserts, the ink rubs off on their hands and clothing and as a consequence thereof has a very demoralizing effect on the person assigned to the job.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a machine which will separate the individual sheets of paper packets of the type referred to above and which will also remove and dispose of the duplicating carbons used in such packets.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide a machine in which paper packets may be stacked in large numbers so that the packets are processed by removal of the duplicating carbons from between the sheets of the packet and separation of the individual sheets in each packet into stacks corresponding to the location of each sheet in each packet. In other words, the top or so-called original sheets of each packet are all stacked in one pile, the bottom sheets in another, etc. The manner in which the various sheets are separated and stacked and the carbons are removed is accomplished by utilizing a machine having two individual Patented Nov. 3, 1959 mittently in one direction toward their separated final locations in the machine and to hold them still while the reversible drive separates the marginal edge of the sheets along with the carbons from the sheets.

For a fuller understanding of this invention reference may be had to the accompanying detailed description and the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side View of the machine showing a stack of the packets in the machine ready to be processed.

Fig. 2 illustrates a type of card or paper sheet packet. which the machine comprising this invention is particularly adapted to process.

Fig. 3 is a side View of the machine opposite to that of Fig. 1 illustrating the various drives for the machine.

Fig. 3a is an enlarged view in section taken on the line 3a-3a of Fig. 4a to illustrate in detail the novel, evacuated tube used to initially separate adjacent sheets of the packet.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the receptacle in which the packets are placed for processing and illustrates portions of the mechanism for picking up the lowermost of each packet and moving it to the right as viewed in the figure between the large rollers of the machine.

Fig. 4a is a continuation of Fig. 4 illustrating how the packet passes through the large rollers after which the uppermost sheet is separated from the carbons and the lowermost sheet, and also how the ends of the lowermost and the uppermost sheets are held between suitable sets of rollers so that upon reverse rotation of the large rollers the marginal edges of the sheets will be separated from the sheets along with the carbons.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged top view with portions in section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1 further illustrating the receptacle for receiving the packets in large numbers and the circular knife sets for holding the remaining packets while the lowermost one is moved to the right as viewed in the figure. 1

Fig. 6 is a view in section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5 and further illustrates the circular knives notched so as to bite into all but the lowermost packet thereby preventing movement of all except the lowermost packet into the machine for processing.

Fig. 7 is a view in section taken on the line 77 of Fig. 5 illustrating how the lowermost packet is picked up by cars ortabs provided on a member carried by a chain drive, the ears or tabs engaging in the perforations of the lowermost sheet of the packet and thereby driving the packet in between the large rollers of the machine.

Fig.- 8 is a view in section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 5 partially illustrating driving means for the endless chain drive.

Fig. 9 is a view taken on line 99 of Fig. 3 and illustrates the lower portion of the driving mechanism including the one-way clutch for obtaining intermittent driving in one direction only.

Fig. 10is a view in section and with portionsbroken away taken on the line Ill-10 of Fig. 3 illustrating the upper part of the driving mechanism particularly for the large rollers of the machine.

Fig. 11 is a view taken on the line 1111 of Fig. 3 illustrating how the one-way clutch is connected to ends: less chain drives which in turn are'connectedthrougha pluralityof gears and pinions to the small rollers on the machineso as to cause them to rotate intermittently one direction only.

Referring first to Fig. 2 the type of packet for which this machine has been designed to process is'shown and comprises a plurality of rectangular sheets 2, 4 and 6 all bound together along va marginal edge 7 of the packet and perforated adjacent the marginal edge '7 as shown at 8. interposed between the sheets '2, 4 and 4, 6 etc. are carbonized thin sheets of paper 9 which hereinafter will 'be referred to as carbons. These carbons 9 of course are for the purpose of duplicating on the lower sheets anything scribed or stenciled on the upper sheet 2. Although the packet shown comprises only three sheets it will be appreciated that packets including any number of sheets may be processed by adding addi tional steps to the machine described herebelow. In handling these card packets or sheet paper packets the normal procedure is to first fill out the top sheet thereby duplicating the information on the lower sheets and then remove the intermediate sheet, in this case indicated by the reference character 4. This then in the present instance leaves an upper sheet 2 and a lower sheet 6, which often is of somewhat heavier material (cardboard), with the two carbons in between. Once the intermediate sheet 4 has been removed the packets are usually gathered together and sent to some central place for processing, which with the present invention entails depositing (see Fig. 1) large numbers of these packets with the intermediate sheets 4 removed in stacks with perforations 8 in vertical alignment in the receptacle 10 defined by two relatively large vertically extending end plates 12 and vertically extending side plates 14.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 4 and 4a which represent one side thereof, it will be observed that the machine comprises a supporting frame 16 which has built thereon adjacent the upper part thereof the aforementioned receptacle 10 defined by the aforementioned plates 12 and 14. In alignment with the bottom of the receptacle 1'0 and immediately to the right thereof, as viewed in Figs. 1, 4 and 4a is a pair of large rollers in engagement with each other including an upper roller 18 and a lower roller 20, both rotatably supported by the frame 16 and adapted to be rotated together by the driving mechanism of the machine to be described somewhat later. Immediately to the right of the line of engagement of rollers 18 and 20 is a second set of rollers 24 and 26. Immediately to the right of rollers 24 and 26 is a small tubular member '22 (see Figs. 3a and 4a) which .is providel with a plurality of small holes 23 forming a helix in the lower portion of its outer cylindrical surface. The member 22 and the holes provided therein are connected to a suitable vacuum pump (also to be described later) which lifts the free end of the upper sheet of any pack being processed so that as the packet moves through the machine rollers the free end of the upper sheet moves upwardly and is clasped by another set of smaller rollers 28 and 30 spaced vertically from the plane including the bottom of receptacle 10, the line of intersection between rollers 18 and 20, and the line of intersection between rollers 24 and 26. Spaced to the right of member 22, as viewed in Fig. 4a, is a fourth set of engaging rollers 32 and 34 which intersect along a line also lying in the plane of the bottom of the receptacle 10. As viewed in Fig. 4a, .additional sets of rollers 36, 38 are provided in general alignment with the set of rollers 28, 30 but spaced to the right thereof. To the right of the set of rollers 38, as viewed in Fig. 4a and as may be best seen in Fig. 1, is a receptacle 40 which receives and stacks the separated upper sheets 2 of the processed'packets. To the right and slightly below the set of rollers 32, 34 is a receptacle 42 which receives and stacks the lower sheets 6 of the paper packets. The carbons 9 and the marginal edges 7, upon reverse movement of the large rollers 18, 20, are directeddownwardly by a guide wire 44 to a suitable bin or receptacle provided in the window 46 (see Fig. 1) in an intermediate part of the machine frame 16.

It will be observed that the pressure between the large rollers 18, 20 may be regulated by means of springs 48 interposed between the upper-side of the journal bearings 50 of the upper roller 18 and a screw-loaded plate 52, all carried by a suitable yoke 54 mounted on the machine frame 16. The pressure between the rollers 28, 30; roller sets 36, 38 and rollers 32, 34 may also be regulated by similar means, indicated generally by numerals .56, 58, 60, 62, respectively. It will also be observed that the rollers 24., 26 are spring-loaded by suitable means 64 so that the pressure therehetween may also .be regulated. In certain instances it may be necessary to entirely relieve the spring pressure between the rollers 18, 20 in which case a pivotedhandle 66 having a cam thereon may be operated to remove all .spring pressure from the upper roller 18.

Turning now to Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, it will be observed that the bottom surface 67 of the bin or receptacle 10 is provided with three elongated slots 68 in which reciprocate back and forth tabs or ears 70, which are provided on a plate '72 secured across two endlesschains 74, which are mounted on suitably spaced gear sets 76, 77. The gears '76, 77 are reversibly driven by the reversible part of the machine drive in a manner to be described later. On either side of the bin or receptacle ll) adjacent one end thereof are oppositely disposed circular knife sets 78 whose edges '79 cut into the stack of card packets provided in receptacle 10. It will be observed, however, that each of the knife edges 79 of the knife sets 78 is notched, as at 80, so that the lowermost packet resting on the surface 67 is not engaged by the knife edges but is free to move on the surface 67 under the influence of the ears or tabs 70 in a manner to be described later. The knife sets 78 are each mounted in a block 82 supported by the frame 16 and adapted to be moved laterally relative thereto by operation of a camming pin 84 interposed between inclined surfaces of the blocks and attached to a lever arm '86 which is pivotally supported on frame 16 for movement about an axis '88 by means of a handle 90. This last-described mechanism has been provided for the purpose of releasing the .cards from the influence of the knife edges in case .of fouling of the machine, etc.

Referring now to Figs. 3,9 and 10 it will be observed that the various operating portions of the machine are driven by a unique driving mechanism, which, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 9, begins with an electrical motor, indicated by the numeral .92. The shaft of motor 92 is directly connected by a belt 164 to a reduction crank mechanism 166 which in turn is connected by an arm 93 to a link 94 through a universal coupling 95 at one end thereof. The opposite end of link 94 is connected through a universal coupling 97 to an arm 96 securely clamped to a shaft 98. Also attached by keying to shaft 98 for-rotation therewith is a lange wheel gear 100 which upon rotation of the electrical motor 92 is given an oscillating motion by reason of arms 93 and 96 and link 94. In other words, gear 100 rotates back and .forth but does not actually complete a revolution. This oscillatory movement of the large :gear 100 is imparted .to the rollers 18, it) (see Figs. 9 and 10) through a pinion 102 which is mounted on and keyed to the same shaft 104 on which the lower roller 20 is mounted and to which roller20 sis keyed. Thus, driving movement is imparted :to :lower roller 20. Also mounted on shaft 104 and secured thereto for rotation therewith is a gear 106 which is in meshing engagement with a gear 108 mounted on and keyed to a shaft 110 on which is mounted and to which is keyed the upper roller 18. Since gears 106 and 108 have the same pitch diameter they oscillate at the same speed but in opposite directions. In other words, they rotate for a predetermined interval to pass the packets between them in one direction, after which they rotate for a predetermined interval to pass back the separated marginal edge and carbons of the packet in the opposite direction and this reversible movement of these rollers continues as long as the machine is being operated. In Figs. 3, 5 and 8 it will be noted that the reversible movement imparted to the rollers 18, 20 is also transmitted to the endless chains 74 by means of a gear 112 in meshing engagement with gear 186 and a gear 114 mounted on the same shaft as gears 76. This reciprocating movement of gears 76 will, of course, cause the endless chains including the plate 72 and tabs 70 to move back and fourth for a purpose which will appear in the description of the complete operation of the machine.

Referring now to Figs. 3, 9 and 11, it will be seen that in order to transmit intermittent rotation of the rollers and roller sets 24, 26; 28, 30; 36, 38 and 32, 34 so that the sheets engaged therebetween move intermittently in one direction only a one-way clutch 116 has been provided which is suitably mounted on a shaft 118 journaled for rotation in the frame 16. This clutch 1.16 is driven by the reciprocating movement of large gear 100 through a small gear 120 in meshing engagement with gear 100. Gear 120, then, drives clutch 116 so as to provide intermittent rotation in one direction only to the" shaft 118 and a gear 122 suitably attached to shaft 118. Gear 122, then, intermittently drives a small gear or pinion 124 (see Fig. 11) and a shaft 126 journaled for rotation in the frame 16 of the machine. Shaft 126 has keyed thereon for intermittent rotation therewith a gear 128 which is provided with an endless chain 130 linking gear 128 to another gear 132 on shaft 133, which is rotatably supported by frame 16 and keyed to another gear 134. Gear 134 has mounted around the teeth thereof another endless chain 136 which drivingly connects gear 134 with another gear 138. Gear 138 is suitably connected through its shaft and a pinion 140 thereon to a set of gears 142, the upper of which is mounted on the same shaft as that of the upper roller of set 38 and the lower of which is mounted on the same shaft as the lower roller of set 38. Gear 138 is also suitably connected by means of gearing 144 and 146 to a set of gears 148, the upper and lower of which are drivingly connected to the same shafts of the upper and lower rollers of the roller set 36. The lower of gear set 148, by means of gears 150 and 152, is connected to another gear set 154 which is connected to the same shafts as the rollers 32 and 34. The gear set 154 through the upper gear thereof is connected through gears 156, 158 and 160 to another set of gears 162 whose shafts, to which they are drivingly connected, correspond to the shafts of the rollers 24, 26. From the foregoing description, then, it will be seen that the roller sets 38, 36 and the sets of rollers 28, 30; 32, 34; 24, 26 are provided with intermittent rotation which will intermittently propel the sheets of the packets between them always in the same direction. The large rollers 118, 120 and the chain drives 74 including the plate 72 and cars 70, however, as pre viously explained, are provided with reciprocating movement due to their direct gear connections with the reciprocating gear 100.

Referring again to Fig. 3 for a moment, it will be observed that also connected to the electric motor 92 by means of a belt drive 168 is a vacuum pump 170, the vacuum pump also being suitably mounted on the frame 16. The vacuum pump 170 is connected by means of a conduit or flexible tube 172 to the small tubular member 22 and creates a vacuum therein whose purpose has been previously described above and will be described with more particularity in the description of the complete operation of the machine.

The operation of the machine in processing card or sheet paper packets of the type. disclosed in Fig. 2 is as follows: The packets are first placed in large stacks in the receptacle (after the sheets 4 have been re moved) so that their perforations 8 and marginal edges 7 are in vertical alignment. Although not deemed essential it has been found preferable to load the stacked tween the guides or vertical plates 12 and 14 so that the knife edges 79 of sets 78 will bite into the edges of the cards in the bound marginal edges thereof and that the lowermost packet will rest on the bottom surface 67 of receptacle 10. After loading the machine with the packets some suitable switching mechanism is actuated which starts the electric motor 92 rotating and, through reduction crank mechanism 166, the link 94 and arms 93 and 96, the large gear oscillating or reciprocating. This reciprocating movement of large gear 100 will, as previously described, cause the upper part of the endless chains 74 including the lugs 72 and tabs 70 to move backward and forward in the elongated slots 68. When the tabs 70 take up their limiting positioning in one direction, which is to the left as shown in Fig. 4, these tabs are in alignment with and engage in the perforations 8 provided in the lowermost packet. As the tabs and lugs 72 on the chains 74 move to the right, as viewed in Fig. 4, they will carry along the lowermost packet causing it to slide through the groove 176 and along the bottom side of a guide piece 178 into between the rollers 18 and 20. This movement of the lowermost packet is synchronized with the rotatable movement of the rollers 18 and 20 by the gear driving means previously described. so that the lowermost packet moves to the right, as viewed in Figs. 4 and 4a, pushing past the free end 180 of the flexible directing spring 44. It should be appreciated that as the packets move to the right, as viewed in Fig. 4, through the slot 176 the tabs 70 will eventuallydrop out of engagement with the perforations provided in the lowermost packet as they start around the gears 77. The card packets will, however, continue to move to the right since they are now engaged between the rollers 18 and 20. As the packet moves between rollers 18 and 20 the free ends of the packet, still maintained together, also pass between the rollers 24, 26 since these rollers are synchronized (because of the gear train drive) to also turn in a direction to cause the packet to move to the right, as viewed in Fig. 4a. As the free edge of the upper sheet 2 of the lowermost pack passes below the tubular member 22 the vacuum created sucks the free edge upwardly so that as the packet continues to move to the right the free edge of upper sheet 2 is directed by means of a spring directing piece 182 upwardly between the set of rollers 28 and 30. The lower sheet of the packet continues to move in the plane of the main part of the packet to the right until its free end is clamped between the rollers 32, 34. The carbons, however, as was explained when describing the packet as shown in Fig. 2, are somewhat shorter than the sheets of the packet so that they are not engaged by anything but the bound margin of the packet, which when the free end of the upper sheet 2 and the free end of the lower sheet 6 are clamped between the rollers 28, 30 and the rollers 32, 34, respectively, is clamped between the rollers 18 and 20. At this point the rollers 28, 30 and 32, 34 stop rotating and the rollers 18 and 20 rotate in a reverse direction. As the rollers 18 and 20 rotate in a reverse direction they tend to start the packet back toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 4a. Due to the fact that the free ends of the sheets 2 and 6, however, are held by the rollers 28, 30 and 32, 34 these sheets become severed along their perforations 8 and the marginal part of the packet along with the carbons .is started toward the left and as the marginal edge 7 engages the spring 44 it and the carbons are directed downwardly into a suitable receptacle provided in the window 46 (see Fig. 1). As the rollers 18 and 20 rotate through the limit of the reverse movement the endless chains 74 move to the left, as viewed in Fig. 4, sliding along the underside of the newlowermost card'packet until the tabs 70 take up the position shown in Fig. 4 and engage in the perforations 8. During reverse movement of rollers 18 and 20 and returning of tabs .70 to the position in which they are .shown in Fig. 4, the rollers 24, 26; 28, 30; set 36, set 38., and 32, 34 do not rotate. packet moves to the right due to the motion of the gear 100 the rollers 24, 26; 28., 30; set 36, set 38 and 32, 34 will again rotate (always in the same direction) moving the now .separated sheet 2 toward its receptacle 40 and the separated sheet 6 toward its receptacle 42. The free end of the separated sheet 2 .is directed by suitable guide guide pieces 184 and 186 in between the roller set 36 and subsequently in between the roller set 38. The cycled operations described above are repeated until all the :carbons of the stacks of packets have been removed and all sheets have been separated and deposited in their proper receptacles. If desired, one or both of the rollers 18, 26 may be provided with 'knife edges which at predetermined times in their cycle would further .sever the perforations between the sheets of the packet so that there would be no tendency on the part of the sheets 2 and 6 to be pulled to the left back from between the rollers 28, 30; 32, 34. It is well known that in ma chinery of this type the sheets of paper often become heavily charged and it is necessary to provide suitable discharge means such as fine copper mesh, etc., otherwise the carbons tend to collect on the machine and prevent its operation. This, however, is deemed to be well within the scope of the skilled mechanic and needs no description here. 26, which, as described, operate intermittently in one direction only, are primarily for guiding purposes and exert very little pressure when the carbons are pulled to the left'therebetweeu, as seen in Fig. 4a.

From the foregoing description it will be appreciated that if it were desired to separate into individual locations various sheets making up these card packets .in which it is necessary to separate more than two sheets it would be necessary to only add other cycled steps to the machine similar to those outlined above. For example, if sheet 4 were left in the packet to be separated out it would only be necessary to add a second vacuum pick-up to the right of member 22 and a tier of roller sets intermediate those for sheets 2 and 6, as viewed in Fig. 4a. The second vacuum pick-up would then pick up sheet and direct it into an appropriate roller set to be clamped at the free end thereof during separation of the sheets of the packet.

What I claim is:

1. A machine for separating a flexible sheet into two parts comprising .a supporting frame, 'a first pair of cooperating clamping rollers supported on said frame and adapted to receive the sheet therebetween, a second pair of cooperating clamping rollers supported on said frame and rotatable on each other, said second pair of rollers being spaced from said first .pair and adapted to receive the sheet therebetween, and reversible driving means connected to said second pair of rollers rotatable on each other operable to cause said .secondpair of rollers to rotate on the sheet when placed therebetween so that the portion of .the sheet .therebetween is caused to move first toward and then away from said first pair of clamping rollers.

2. A machine for separating a flexible sheet weakened along a line in the plane thereof into two parts comprising a supporting frame, a first pair of cooperating clamping rollers supported on said frame and adapted to receive the sheet therebetween on one side of the line in the plane of the sheet, a second pair of cooperating rollers supported on said frame and rotatable on each other, said second pair of rollers being spaced from said first pair and adapted to receive the sheet therebetween on the other side of the line in the plane thereof, intermittent driving means connected to said first pair of rollers, and

reversible driving means connect to aid s ond p ir f However, as the new lowermost It should be explained that rollers 24,

8. rollers rotatable on each other, said driving means being operable to cause said second pair of rollers to rotate on the sheet when .placed therebetween so that the portion of the sheet therebetween is caused to move first toward and then away from said first pair of clamping rollers.

3.. A machine for use with sheet paper packets wherein each packet includes two sheets and a carbonized sheet therebetween bound together along a marginal edge of the packet with the two sheets being weakened adjacent the marginal edge of the packet, said machine being adapted to eliminate the carbonized sheets from the packets and to separate the sheets of the packets from their common margin and comprising a supporting frame, a packet receiving receptacle mounted on said frame, the bottom of said receptacle having a slot therein, packet propelling means movable back and forth in said slot and extending above the bottom surface of said receptacle, said receptacle having a packet exit slot through which one of the packets may be propelled, packet restraining means supported on said frame on either side of said receptacle adjacent the bottom thereof adapted to engage paper packets in said receptacle adjacent the bottom of said receptacle, means associated with said restraining means preventing restraining of a packet on the bottom of said receptacle, driving means attached to said propelling means to move said propelling means back and forth in said slot, said propelling means being adapted to engage a packet in the bottom of said receptacle, a pair of 0ppositely disposed engaging rollers, guide means on said supporting frame extending between the exit slot in said receptacle to between said rollers, said driving means and said packet propelling means being operable to drive a packet through said slot along said guide means to said rollers, vacuum means supported on said frame on the side of said rollers opposite said receptacle adapted to lift the uppermost leaf of the packet being propelled through said rollers, a second set of oppositely disposed engaging rollers supported on said frame, guide means on said frame adapted to direct the upper sheet of the paper packet lifted by said vacuum means between said second set of rollers, a third set of oppositely disposed engaging rollers supported .on said frame and spaced from said vacuum means and on the side thereof opposite to said receptacle, guide means for directing the lowermost sheet of the packet between said third set of rollers, said driving means being operable to maintain said second set and said third set .of said rollers stationary and reverse rotation of said first set of rollers whereby the upper and lower sheets of the packet are separated from their marginal edges along with the carbonized sheet interposed therebetween.

4. A machine for separating the leaves of paper packets bound along and weakened adjacent marginal edges thereof comprising a support, a packet receptacle on said support, a pair of cooperating abutting rollers spaced from said receptacle, reversible driving means supported on said frame and connected to said rollers being operable to reversibly rotate said rollers at equal speeds in opposite directions so that their points of abutment travel reversibly in the same direction, other sets of abutting rollers spaced from said first set, a one way clutch connecting said reversible driving means to said other sets of abutting rollers for intermittent rotation in one direction only, packet propelling means in said receptacle having packet engaging means thereon, said propelling means being connected to said driving means and adapted to propel a packet between said first mentioned set of rollers, guide means spaced from said first set .of rollers adapted to guide the free ends of the sheets of the packet between said other sets of rollers, said reversible driving means being operable to reverse the .rotation of said first set of rollers and to stop rotation of the other of said sets of rollers whereby the leaves of the paper packet are separated from the marginal edge of the packet and from each other.

.5, A machine for separating a plurality of flexible 9 sheets bound together and weakened along margins thereof comprising a supporting frame, a pair of cooperating clamping rollers supported on said frame and adapted to receive the margins of the sheets therebetween, other pairs of cooperating clamping rollers supported on said frame and adapted to receive the sheets therebetween remote from the margins thereof, and reversible driving means connected to one of said pairs of cooperating clamping rollers operable to drive the one of said pairs of rollers so as to move the sheet clamped 'therebetween first toward and then away from another of said pairs of cooperating clamping surfaces.

6. A machine for separating at least two leaves of a packet bound together along a marginal edge thereof comprising a supporting frame, a first pair of clamping surfaces supported on said frame and adapted to receive the bound marginal edge of .said packet there between, means on said frame adapted to lift one of the leaves of the packet, a second pair of clamping surfaces on said frame, guide means on said frame to direct the lifted leaf of the packet between said second pair of clamping surfaces, a third pair of clamping surfaces on said frame, guide means on said frame to direct a leaf of the packet other than the lifted leaf between said third pair of clamping surfaces, and reversible driving means connected to said'first pair of surfaces to move the marginal edge of the packet clamped between said first pair of clamping surfaces away from the leaves clamped between said second and third pairs of clamping surfaces.

7. A machine for separating at least two leaves of a packet bound together along a marginal edge thereof comprising a supporting frame, a first pair of clamping surfaces supported on said frame and adapted to re-- surfaces on said frame, guide means on said frame to direct a leaf of the packet other'than the lifted leaf between said third pair of clamping surfaces, and reversible 'said first pair of clamping surfaces away from the leaves clamped between said second and third pairs of clamp- I ing surfaces.

8. A machine for separating the leaves of paper packets bound along adjacent marginal edges thereof comprising a support, a pair of cooperating abutting rollers, reversible driving means supported on said frame and connected to said rollers being operable to reversibly rotate said rollers at equal speed in opposite directions so that their points of abutment travel reversibly in the same direction, other sets of abutting rollers supported on said support and spaced from said first set, a oneway, clutch connecting said reversible driving means to other said roller for intermittent rotation in one direction only, means to propel a packet between said first mentioned set of rollers, guide means spaced from said firstfset of rollers adapted to guide the free ends of the sets of the packet between other sets of rollers, said reversible driving means being operable to reverse the rotation of said first set of rollers and to stop rotation of the other of said sets of rollers through said one-way clutch whereby the leaves of the paper packet are separated from the marginal edge of the packet and from each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

